3. Current Situation of Persons with Disabilities

3.1 Definition and Classification

The Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons (FNCDP) uses the definition of disability based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of disabled persons as stated below:

"Disabled Persons, means persons, who as a result of physical, mental or sensory impairment are restricted or lacking in ability to perform an activity in the manner considered normal for human beings" (FNCDP, Annual Report 1996)

The Fiji Disabled Peoples Association, a self-help group of persons with disability, uses the following definition of disability:

"Disability applies to anyone who by virtue of their physical mental, sensory and emotional disposition is prevented from enjoying equal opportunities and exercising the same rights as the rest of the society due to social and physical barriers " (FDPA, 1998)

The term "disability" means the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in community life on equal terms with others. It describes the encounter between a person with disability and the environment. The purpose of this term is to emphasize the shortcomings in the environment or the many organized activities in society such as information, communication or education that prevent persons with disabilities from equal participation in society

Disability in Fiji is perceived as a punishment of previous misdeeds of the family or is the result of witchcraft or bad luck. Perception towards people of disabilities has changed to a more humane perspective in the last ten years.

3.2 Government Policy and National Plan towards Persons with Disabilities (Proclamation)

There are no specific provisions related to disability in the National Development Plan. However, some attempts are being made to include special education issues into the mainstream education sector of the Development Plan.

Several ministries, through their own initiatives or participation in regional and international meetings, have developed their own policy responding to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups within their own portfolio.

3.3 Government System

Disability-related Government Agencies:

1. Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons (FNCDP)

The FNCDP was formally approved in September 1992 by the Cabinet through the Ministry of Women, Culture and Social Welfare as the central authority and the national coordinating body for the disability development. The vision of the FNCDP is "achievement of the quality of life for persons with disabilities" and its mission is "to facilitate full participation and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in all facets of life". The FNCDP was then officially established in March 1993 comprised of a variety of members from government ministries and departments to NGO's of/for persons with disabilities.

In December 1994, FNCDP Act no. 21 was enacted in order to consolidate the establishment of the Council through its legal framework. Under the FNCDP Act, 6 advisory committees were formed, namely an advisory committee on

1. health
2. education
3. housing transport and environment
4. vocational training and employment
5. sports
6. legislation

These committees are expected to advise and make recommendations for research, policy implementation or legislative amendments within the relevant individual policy categories of the Agenda for Action.

Remarkable Achievement by FNCDP since its establishment:

• The establishment of the FNCDP in March 1993
• The enactment of the FNCDP Act in 1994
• The formation of the 6 Advisory Committees of the FNCDP
• The formation of the 9 District Disabled Persons Committees in the main centers of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu
• The inclusion of the FNCDP requirements in the 1996 Fiji National Population Census. The 1996 census included questions about disability for the first time.
• The inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the 1997 Amended Constitution of the Fiji Islands.
• The participation of the FNCDP in National Forums for Children (CCC).
• Women (Task Force) with National Planning.
• The City of Suva, capital of Fiji and other townships made alterations and adjustments in construction of structures to make them disabled friendly, such as wheelchair access and public toilets, buildings, entertainment centers and street wheelchair ramps.
• The extension of new school buildings to cater for vocational training in the existing disability Institutions.

2. Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation
(http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/m_women.shtml)

The Ministry's main responsibility is to advise the Government on public policies, especially for women as well as persons with disabilities.

3. Ministry of Education
(http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/m_education.shtml)

Special education curriculum and policy and mainstreaming have been debated on and were highlighted in the 2000 Education Commission Report. The Special Education Unit within the Primary School Section of the Ministry of Education has taken the initiative to draft a special policy that would cover all other aspects of disability-related services.

4. Ministry of Health
(http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/m_health.shtml)

The Ministry provides primary health care, rehabilitation and equipment as well as services to persons with disabilities.

The National Social Welfare System For Persons with Disabilities

*Source:A Country Study on People with Disabilities, A JICA and FDPA Joint Project, February 2001

The Organizational Structure

FNCDP (The District Committee Structure)

*Source:Legislation on Equal Opportunities and Full Participation in Development for Disabled Persons Examples from the ESCAP Region, United Nations, 1997

3.4 Regional Cooperation

In 1996, the FNCDP hosted the workshop on the management of self-help organizations of PWDs in the Pacific. The participants included Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. The ESCAP provided financial support for the training program held at the South Pacific Commission Training Center.

Involvement with regional organizations such as the South Pacific Commission, University of the South Pacific, Forum Secretariat and others helps enhance the recognition of PWDs' development, laying the foundation for regional cooperation, and also sharing resources among the disabled population of the Pacific.

3.5 Statistics Data

A nationwide statistics data on disability is not yet available in Fiji. FNCDP is now planning to conduct a national disability survey in collaboration with NGOandacute;s.

However, a number of persons with disabilities have been partly identified by a couple of sources as follows:

In 1996, questions on disability were included in the national census in Fiji for the first time. In this census, nearly 12,000 persons were recorded as being disabled in some form. In the 1997 Fiji Poverty Survey, many persons with disabilities in Fiji were poor and had limited formal education, employment opportunities, and services.

A national registration system for persons with disabilities is also not provided in Fiji. Early identification of disabilities is carried out by community rehabilitation assistants and public health nurses. Information of the identified disabilities is available from the Health Ministry but requires analysis and classification for action to be taken by support organizations. The formal education system registers persons with disabilities so that referrals can be made to special schools.

3.6 Law and Regulation

Fiji enacted its Constitution in 1997. The Constitution contains amended clauses and provisions for the benefit of persons with disabilities. These clauses and provisions are expected to greatly enhance the disability development especially in the area of discrimination which had existed previously. The most important legal work now is a review of Fiji's National Building Code. The FNCDP Advisory Committee is preparing its submission for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing based on the need to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Series of laws and regulations on disabilities in Fiji are as follows:

• Mental Treatment Act Chapter 113,Ed. 1978 Legislated year: 1990

The Act Covers the Following :

• Admission of patients.
• Special powers and duties of visitors.
• General powers and duties of superintendents.
• Discharge, escape or death of patients.
• Provisions regulating enquiry into unsoundness of mind.
• Miscellaneous.

• Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons (FNCDP) Act No.21 Legislated year : 1994

• Coordinates organizations involved in the care and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
• Formulates a national policy that ensures the provision of services to all persons with disabilities in Fiji.
• Draws up and implements a National Plan of Action for rehabilitation services.
• Seeks financial assistance from the government, donors and registered organizations to provide disability-related services.
• Maintains a register of all organizations providing disability-related services and ensures the independence of such organizations.
• Organizes national seminars and workshops relating to the problems and needs of persons with disabilities as well as assists in training workers involved in the care, training, education, and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
• Creates public awareness of problems and aspirations of persons with disabilities.
• Regularly informs the appropriate government ministries on problems and needs of persons with disabilities and seeks solutions to such needs.
• Works toward the elimination of the causes of disability.
• Establishes a national rehabilitation fund and attracts national and international contributions of funds, expertise, materials and equipment for implementation of the national rehabilitation plan.
• Periodically reviews the national policy and national plan of action for the purpose of determining their continuing relevance to local, regional, and international realities.

• Constitution of Fiji Chapter 4 : BIll of Rights Section 38 Legislated year: 1997

Equality and Discrimination against Disability Subsection 2 : (Under Equal Employment Opportunity-EEO-Policy)

A person must not be unfairly discriminated against directly or indirectly on the grounds of his or her actual or supposed personal characteristics or circumstances including race, ethnic origin, color, place of origin, gender, sexual orientation, birth, primary language, economic status, age or disability.

Accessibility Subsection 4 :
Every person has the right to discrimination-free access without discrimination to shops, hotels, lodging houses, public restaurants, places of public entertainment, public transports, and public places.

Access of Persons with Disabilities Subsection 5 :
The proprietor of a place of service referred to under Subsection 4 must facilitate reasonable access of persons with disabilities to the extent described by law.

• Constitution of Fiji Chapter 5 : Social Justice, Section 44 Legislated year : 1997

Social Justice and Affirmative Action Subsection 1 : The parliament must make provisions for programs designed to ensure all groups and categories of persons who are disadvantaged gain equal access to :

• Education and training.
• Land and housing.
• Participation in commerce.
• All levels and branches of services of the state.

3.7 Social Service

No special allowance has been provided by the Department of Social Welfare to persons with disabilities. Only the Family Assistance and Poverty Alleviation Scheme has been undertaken in Fiji.

However, tax free or duty free concessions or other forms of assistance have been given to persons with disabilities for imported wheelchairs and other accessibility aids and devices.

3.8 Medical Service, Rehabilitation, Assistive Devices

Medical service

At public hospitals, a patient, who needs to be admitted, must deposit or guarantee a sum of money sufficient to cover the cost of treatment for at least one week. This financial requirement is waived for the poor and those suffering from severe accidents or death threatening diseases. There is no waiver of fee based on the disability status of each person. Accommodation and outpatient services are also charged, although there are exceptions to this rule with no charges imposed on certain classes of patient. This includes people with mental disabilities. There is only one hospital named St. Giles Hospital in Fiji which provides medical care for persons with intellectual disability.

Policy and program on medical services for disabled people are:

• Medical Rehabilitation Policy (Ministry of Health)
   Implemented year : 1970

The National Rehabilitation Medicine Hospital :

• Provides medical rehabilitation such as physiotherapy etc.
• Assists patients to be self-reliant as soon as possible.
• This service is provided only in St Giles and Tamavua rehabilitation mnits since there is only one occupational therapist.

• Mental Health Act (Ministry of Health)
   Implemented year : 1970

St Giles Psychiatric Hospital

• Provides medical assistance to patients with mental health problems.
• Community services to outpatients with mental health problems.

Assistive Devices

Currently, the government of Fiji has no explicit policy on assistive devices. The FNCDP has attempted to work with the advisory committee on health to consider a policy on this. In Fiji, also there is no body national standards on and no quality-control standards for assistive devices.

To date, assistive devices have been provided by :

1. The Prosthetics and Orthotics Laboratory in Tamavua.
2. The Fiji Red Cross Society (for wheelchairs, walkers, and white canes).
3. The Government through the Ministry of Health, (for hospital equipment).

Assistive device requirements are met through personal funds, sponsorship, or temporary loans of devices from various government hospitals.

Only two calipers and five prosthetic devices can be produced in Fiji each month because there is only one prosthetic/ orthotic technician in Fiji working at the Tamavua Prosthetics and Orthotics Laboratory.

Most of the assistive devices, 90 per cent, including wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks and daily living equipment used in Fiji have been imported from abroad primarily, Australia and New Zealand. Sixty per cent of these are donated.

These assistive devices are distributed through the Ministry of Health and NGO's. However, most persons with disabilities in Fiji cannot afford to purchase them. The Fiji Crippled Children Society, an NGO, is an institutionalized organization providing service of assistive devices for persons with disabilities. The Fiji Red Cross Society is also a service provider of assistive devices. Their funds are raised from sponsorship-lottery agencies.

3.9 Comminity-based Rehabilitation(CBR)

CBR has been established in Fiji for more than ten years. Initially, CBR projects aimed to develop ways to promote early identification and intervention of children with disabilities who lived in the rural community and had very limited access to rehabilitation facilities and services offered. The program, later, has expanded to cover adults with disabilities.

The National Plan for the CBR Program has relied on health under the Community Rehabilitation Assistants (CRA's) project, which was formulated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, due to the availability of data base and experienced personnel. A total of 13 CRA's have been formed to undertake tasks concerning the project. Basic physiotherapy techniques and some training in other disciplines including speech and occupational therapy have been conducted by the assigned staff. CRA's have worked with public health nurses and members of public health teams to deliver treatment to persons with disabilities. For families, village health workers and community members, CRA's provide services that include assessment of needs, development of rehabilitation programs, the provision of prevention education, delivery of training on disability and provision of basic media equipment.

Policies regarding CBR are below.

• CBR project
   Implemented year : 1994

This project implemented by the Fiji Disabled Peoples' Association (Non-Government Initiative) involves community development, case management, organization and record keeping, and professional development.

• Primarily Health Care Policy (Ministry of Health)
   Implemented year : 1990

Community Rehabilitation Assistants Works along with members of the community, the public health team, including sub-divisional physiotherapy, other government and non-governmental organizations help organize and develop CBR in line with government policies relating to primary and preventive health care, disability management and rehabilitation.

• Community Rehabilitation Assistants by Fiji Society for the Blind (Non-Government Initiative)
   Implemented year : 1980

To assist and support the development of people with visual impairments

3.10 Independent Living Center

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3.11. Public Awareness

Public awareness-raising has been done through the continuous wide dissemination of information on disabilities. A number of disability organizations have played an important role on this issue. A national disabled persons' association has aggressively run an advocacy program with various supports from the Fiji media including radio, television, and newspapers.

The Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons (FNCDP) has been organizing participation of persons with disabilities in various national celebrations since 1995. It is also the active involvement of the disabled people themselves, working through their NGO's in awareness-raising, fund-raising and sports programs, that has led to a wider public awareness of their needs and aspirations.

3.12 Sports

The Ministry of Health and Social welfare and the FNCDP set up an Advisory Committee to undertake sports of persons with disabilities in accordance with the Asian and Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons 1993-2000. The Fijian disabled athletes were active in the sports events, both for competition and recreation purposes, The Ministry of Youth and Sports is responsible to formulate a national policy of sports, and allocate financial support

3.13 Prevention of Causes of Disability

The major causes of disabilities in Fiji are congenital, accidental, illness or genetics. The Ministry of Health has planned a strategy and mission to provide assistance to prevent disabilities. Efforts are being made by the Red Cross Society and Land Transport Authority (LTA) to prevent disabilities caused by automobile accidents by enacting legislation stipulating the compulsory use of seat belts.

Causes of disability in Fiji often go undetected in the early stages. Samples of causes of disability include lack of medical equipment for clinical nurses to analyze and the lack of knowledge on disabilities towards disability prevention at the parental level.

Malnutrition has been reduced through the work of the National Food and Nutrition Committee (NFNC). Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is now in place to prevent accidental disabilities at the workplace such as enforcing regulations on deep-sea diving equipment.

The Ministry of Health has planned strategy and mission to provide assistance to prevent disabilities. The Red Cross Society and Land Transport Authority have attempted to prevent disabilities caused by automobile accidents by enacting legislation. Malnutrition has been reduced by the National Food and Nutrition Committee while occupational health and safety is now implemented to prevent accidental disabilities at the work place.

Laws and regulations related to the prevention of disabilities in Fiji are as follows:

• Mental Health Act (Ministry of Health): Legislated year: 1999

Description : National Medical Rehabilitation Hospital

• Provision of primary preventive methods such as physiotherapy to patients with spinal injuries, kidney problems, strokes etc. There are no counseling services for patients or any provision of occupational therapy.
• Accommodates amputees and people with other disabilities.

• The Safety Belt Act by the Land Transport Authority (LTA): Legislated year: 1999

Description: Made the use of seat belts compulsory to prevent injury from automobile accidents.

• Safety Promotion Act, Ministry of Health Mission Statement: Legislated year: 1997

Description:

• Promote, protect and maintain good health/ well-being and improve the quality of life of Fijians.
• Provide the financial resources necessary to supply primary health care, rehabilitation and equipment services to persons with disabilities
• Established the National Center for Health Promotion within the Ministry of Health to assist in preventing disabilities.

• Free Medical Provision Strategy (Ministry of Health): Legislated year: 1990

Description : Primary Health Care

Patients are admitted to a hospital for medical checkups with fees waived according to their financial and disability status.

• Constitution of Fiji: Legislated year: 1977

Description : Chapter 4 : Bill of Rights Section 38, Subsections 2,4,5
Chapter 5: Social Justice Section 44, Subsection 1.

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• Health Act (Ministry of Health): Legislated year: 1970

Description: Primary Health Care
Designed to disperse public health nurses to outer rural areas.

• Maternal Health Act. (Ministry of Health): Legislated year: 1970

Description: Early identification of problems in proper child development.

• Compulsory Vaccination Policy (Ministry of Health): Legislated year: 1970

Description: Vaccination of BCG, DPT 3, OVP 3, Measles, Tetanus 11, Hepatitis B111

• Lower the mortality rate.
• Prevent disease and deformities.
• Promote proper growth and development.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ministry of Labor): Legislated year: 1970

Description: Stipulates regulations on safety for laborers, employees and inhabitants of buildings and facilities.

Biwako Millennium Framework Seven Priority Areas

3.14 Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and related Family and Parents Associations

Organizations of PWDs have continuously organized their own affairs. The FNCDP Act has protected their autonomy. Efforts to be united of PWDs in Fiji have not been quite so successful.

3.15 Women with Disabilities

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3.16 Early Detection, Early Intervention and Education

Identification and Early Intervention

In addition to the efforts of the Community Rehabilitation Assistants (CRAs) in the country, the identification of children with disabilities for the provision of early intervention has not yet been fully installed.

• Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Strategies (Ministry of Health) Implemented year: 1990

This strategy promotes early identification and intervention of disabilities in rural community settings where there is only limited access to rehabilitation facilities and services. Community Rehabilitation Assistants (CRAs) are based in sub-divisional health centers. The CRAs work with public health nurses and members of a public health team to treat disabilities

• Strategy to Support Early Intervention (Ministry of Education) Implemented year: 1970

Identify if the child is performing well or not. Slow learners are referred to special schools or assisted by class teachers. - Educational and medical assistance to children up to 8 years of age. - Early development and improvement programs.

• Family Health Care Policy (Ministry of Health) Implemented year: N/A

To assist parents in identifying disabilities of their children

There are special schools, under the Primary Education Section, Ministry of Education, which are attached to the inclusive classes and provide special education for persons with disabilities. The government only provides support in terms of subsidizing school fees, building grants, textbook grants and other financial assistance for public funding. However, no national policy, regulation, or special provisions have been provided by the government for the education of persons with disabilities.

The Special Education Unit is responsible for developing and managing the special education for children with disabilities. The key functions of this unit cover:

• Screening the children with disabilities
• Establishing the new special schools
• Providing specialist training for teachers in special schools
• Providing the grant assistance and guidance of special school management.

The special schools are supervised under the Special Education Unit of the Primary Education Section, Ministry of Education but are owned and managed by charity organizations. However, the primary education curriculum and special curriculum for skills development initiated by the government have been followed by the special schools.

According to the 1999 annual report of the Ministry of Education, there were 972 children with disabilities who attended the 16 special education institutes in Fiji. The grant in the amount of $ 250,000 was distributed to all special schools aiming to support the managing and operational costs.

Since, most of the said schools are located in urban areas, resulting most rural children are unable to attend these schools.

The FNCDP has continued to convince the Ministry of Education to consider the needs of disability-related education which includes the following:

• Developing a clear policy on disability-related education, including integration into the mainstream education system.
• Providing qualified special education teachers.
• Providing remedial teachers and admitting children with disabilities into the secondary education system.
• Providing a proper curriculum for vocational training.
• Providing Braille facilities for children with visual impairment.
• Establishing a separate unit with resources to look after special education.
• Providing scholarships for teachers and students with disabilities for further training and higher education.

Secondary and higher education opportunities do not exist for the children who are attending the 16 primary-level institutions in the country because the Ministry of Education does not provide mainstreaming support and facilities required such as, Braille for persons with visual impairment and other teaching aids and related staff are not available.

Policies on the special education are follows

• Special Education Strategy Implemented year: 1960

17 Special Education schools have been established for children with disabilities

• Support in terms of teachers, teacher training, and financial grants Implemented year: N/A

All schools are managed by societies and the special schools operate with governmental assistance.

3.17 Training and Employment

Employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in Fiji are still limited. Also the systematic preparation of them for employment is lacking for persons with disabilities who are looking for employment. Two agencies are now providing support for persons with disabilities seeking jobs including of the Social Welfare Department and the Equal Employment Opportunities (Public Service Commission).

The provision of vocational training facilities to students who have been unable to attend school has been a priority since the mid-1970s in order to prepare them with some skills to access the job market or become self-employed.

The Fiji Rehabilitation Council was formed in 1979 as the organization responsible for vocational programs nationwide excluding Suva and nearby areas where they set up their own vocational programs due to the Council's limited service.

The FNCDP has handled the training and employment issues by appointment of an Advisory Committee comprised of human resource development experts, involving the Ministry of Labor, the Fiji Institute of Technology and the Fiji National Training Council.

Progress has been slow and very little due to the limitation of personnel and curriculum set up by the Ministry of Education.

As a result, young PWDs have not been provided the basic knowledge and skills to be employed or to be self-employed. However, pre-vocational training in a few "special schools" has helped PWDs to produce some arts and crafts, toys and furniture. Currently, these programs have been kept running.

The policies related to the vocational training and employment promotion in Fiji are as follows.

• Occupational Rehabilitation
Implemented year: 1970

• Assists patients to perform daily services.
• Assists and supports persons with disabilities towards rehabilitation as quickly as possible.
• Occupational rehabilitation services are provided at the Fiji Vocational and Technical Training Center, Naroro Rehabilitation Center, Veilomani Boys Center and Nadroga Rehabilitation Center.

• Vocational Training and Assistance Strategy (Ministry of Education)
Implemented year: 1970

• Fiji Vocational Technical Training Center caters to youth with disabilities
• Employment
• Education

3.18 Access to Built Environment and Public Transport

Accessibility to environment has been done in the wider context, encompassing accessibility to education, health social welfare, legislation, communication, employment, etc. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare appointed an Advisory Committee to discuss accessibility in November 1995 resulting in the immediate task of drafting a proposal for the inclusion of the needs of persons with disabilities into the National Building Code.

Persons with disabilities have been faced with an unfriendly environment in the areas of road curbs, pathways, crossings, stairs, public conveniences and transportation. After the request of the FNCDP, the needs of persons with disabilities have been put into the municipal development plans. Since then Suva, the capital city, has taken the initiative of installing car parks, road signs, and toilets suitable for persons with disabilities. Other urban cities are having plans to provide friendly environment for persons with disabilities. Positively, awareness of this matter has expanded to other organizations including the Fiji Institute of Technology and the University of the South Pacific.

Public transportation such as bus and taxi has also been initiated by the Advisory Committee. This committee is also active in the issues of attending secondary schools, university education, vocational training, employment and community The Town and Country Planning Act (Caption 19) states the provisions must be made for public facilities to be accessible for persons with disabilities. This resulted in the provision of ramps on road crossings being initiated by the municipalities. However, there is a budget constraint in providing accessibility to public facilities.

Policy on Social Service appears below.

• Social Service Policy and Poverty Alleviation Strategy (Ministry of Social Welfare)
  Implemented year: 1980

Grants and assistance scheme for organizations and individuals.

3.19 Access to Information and Communication

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3.20 Poverty Alleviation through Capacity-building, Social Security and Sustainable Livelihood Programs

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